Bloth: Mantus! Ready the catapults! I'll take the wind out of their sails! Mantus: Hurry, you blithering fools! Launch the nycra! Ready...fire! Ioz: Noy Jitat--nycra! They're destroying the sail! Ren: That kreld-eater Bloth never gives up. Tula! Help me! I'll peel, you patch. Niddler: And I'll duck! Bloth: Prepare to board, Mantus...wha--? Pirates: Noy Borga! The sea'll swallow us up! Ioz: Chongo-longo--what is Bloth up to now? Ren: By the twin moons! Look! Ioz: Scut pango! We're trapped like goija in a barrel! Mantus: We can't escape, Bloth! Bloth: But neither can Ren. We must make the most of this opportunity! Prepare to attack! Ren: If it's a fight that kreld-eater wants, it's a fight he'll get! Bloth: Torment my eyes! Even when we're trapped together, that boy manages to elude me...whoa! Konk: Yaaah! Blue: Welcome, warriors! Bloth: By the abyss! Ioz: Who are they? Blue: We are the Game Players of the floating island of Undaar. Bloth: Blast you and your island! I demand you release me now! Blue: Heheheheh...you're in no position to make demands, Bloth. Bloth: So--you know who I am? Blue: Yes...we have observed you and Ren, battling each other across the Twenty Seas, and have found you more than worthy. Red: Of playing the game![?] Ren: I don't know what your game is, but I am on a quest for the Treasures of Rule to save Mer from the Dark Water! Bloth: And I intend to have those Treasures, boy! Blue: Enough! Your obsession is the Treasures-- Red: Our obsession--*chuckle*--is the game! Take them. Konk: Yaah! Rrr--! Bloth: Mantus! Stop him! Mantus: Oof! Nat jut! Bloth: Then I'll finish you myself--may your soul twist in the abyss! Let me go! Ioz and Tula: *gasp, grunt* Ioz: Chongo-longo! Ren: Noy Ji-tat-! Auhh--let me go-! Tula: Ren! Bloth: Scut pango! Ren: Chongo longo! Blue: Welcome, warriors! Prepare to fight for your lives in our game. Bloth: Throw me a sword, gill-neck, and I'll finish this game right now! Ren: Kreld-eating-- Red: We know you two are bitter enemies, but you won't be fighting each other--not very amusing. Blue: Nooo! Heh-heh--you will face the ultimate warriors, the Korb! Red: And join forces against them. Blue: Far more interesting! Red: We're willing to bet on it. Bloth: I'm not fighting anyone for your enjoyment, especially not with him as an ally! Ren: And I would rather die than join forces with the beast that killed my father! Blue: So, you both refuse! Then the Korb will tear you apart. But, first, we destroy your friends! Pirates: *shouts of panic* Ioz and Tula: *gasps* Niddler: Dohhhh! Tula: Ay Jitata! Ioz: Chongo longo! Konk: Ooh--aah--eee--aii! Bloth! Play game--save Konk! Bloth: They're bluffing. I'm not afraid of these hard shells...and I can always get another crew. Ren: This is no bluff. I will play your Jitatin game! Bloth: By my soul--I will play too! Blue: Splendid! Bloth: What the rawfendie is this? Ren: Aaah! Blue: Makes the game more interesting. Now, behold the playing field! Both teams will be pitted against the terrain and each other. Red: If you surface dwellers finish first, you and your friends will be allowed to go free. Niddler: Think we got a chance? Ioz: I wouldn't bet my life on it. Tula: Unfortunately, Ren has to. Blue: Let the games begin! Bloth: Wait! Don't we get any weapons? Blue: Makes the game more interesting. Bloth: Why you-- Ren and Bloth: Aaaah! Blue: Ten skrudels on the korb. Red: Fifteen on the surface dwellers! Blue and Red: Ah, yes--I give you fifteen, I give you fifteen, I give you fifteen--[?]--twenty-five! Oh, yes-- Ren and Bloth: Aaah! Ren: Get off me, you kreld-eating--augh, leviathan-! Bloth: Tell me what to do, boy, and I'll rip you apart! Ren and Bloth: *grunts* Ren: Like it or not, Bloth, we're stuck toge-- Bloth: Shh! what was that? Ren: Noy Jitat! Bloth: This way! Ren: Yaah! Bloth: *grunts, gurgles water* Ren: *gasping* Bloth: That gave those hard-shells the slip...no thanks to you, boy! Ren: You Jitatin--*gasp* Look out-! Niddler: I can't look! Ioz: Then give it here, monkeybird. Chonga--having Bloth for a partner is like having a denoba water snake in your pocket; you never know when it might strike. Tula: We've got to find a way to help Ren! Ioz: Ay Jitata, maybe we can! Konk: Mantus--want to place wager on game? Mantus: What are you wagering with, you toad? Konk: Konk have gold--Konk bet on Korb! Mantus: Then I'll bet on Bloth, you gantha pig! Ren: *gasp* Trying to kill me, you dartha eel? Bloth: Just trying to save myself, boy. If they find you, they find me. Ren: Noy borga! Bloth--wait! They're not coming after us. Bloth: Torment my eyes--I see why! Ren and Bloth: Yaaaah--aaaah! Bloth: Oomph! Ren: *gasping for air* Chongo-longo! Come--to--you beached leviathan--or we're both Korb meat! Bloth: *gasps* The Compass! Ren: The Korb! Korb: Roar! Bloth: Blast their souls! Ren: Jump! Enh--Ay Jitata... Bloth: Unfortunately, if you go, I go, at least for now! Can't outrun them--with these Jitatin chains on-! Ren: Then we'll--just have to outsmart them! Bloth: Stupid kreld-eaters fell for it, boy. Ren: But we still have to beat them to the finish line. Bloth: *gasp* Ren: Aaah! Noy Jitat! Bloth: Help me! Or you go next! Ren: Chongo-longo! Bloth: *chuckles* So this is how it ends, son of Primus--with[?] both of us as plant food! Ren: Or torn apart-- Ren and Bloth: Yaaauh! Ren: Auuhh! Bloth: Arrh-- Niddler: Oh, no--Ren is doomed, Bloth is doomed--we're all doomed! Ioz: Not if I can help it--I'm going to even up the odds. Tula: Not without me you aren't! Ioz: *grunt* Niddler: I suppose you want me to go down there, too? Ioz: No, I want you to repair our sail, monkeybird--we'll need it when we get out of here! Niddler: *gulp* If we get out of here... Konk: Twenty on plants! Mantus: Smool-brain, if the plants eat them, we all die! Konk: Yes, but Konk will die rich! Mantus: You're on! Bloth: How does it feel to know you're going to die, boy? Ren: I don't mind--as long as you're going with me, Bloth-- *grunts, cries out in pain* Bloth: *cries out in pain* We're free! Ren: To die! Ren and Bloth: *grunts* Bloth: Looks like it's every man for himself, boy. Ren: Fine with me! Korb: Roar! Bloth: By the blood of the twin moons... Ren and Bloth: Oomph! Ren: Nat jut! This way! Bloth: For now. But this changes nothing, boy! Konk: Konk still think Korb will win. Me ready to put biiig money on it. Red: How big? Ioz: This should hold--huh? Ioz and Tula: Aaahh! Tula: Nice move, Ioz. Ioz: chongo-longo--where did he come from? Tula: I'm more concerned with where he's going! Oof! Ioz: Time to face a real warrior, you shardfish--aauh! Tula: No! Korb: *panicked cries* Ioz: I had him right where I wanted him! Tula: Sure you did. Come on! I don't think I impressed him with my ecomancy either. Ren: Noy Jitat! Bloth: Careful, boy--I wouldn't want to lose you, not when we're so close. Ren: Your concern is touching, Bloth...or are you just worried the Korb are closer? Bloth: Ay chongo--those kreld-eaters will finish us before we can reach the finish line! Unless we can arrange a little accident... *eating/chomping sounds* Ren: It's working, Bloth--just a few steps closer! Bloth: *animal eating sounds* Ren: Now they're together, but not close enough! Bloth: This should bring them running--come and get him! Ren: Bloth! Bloth: Two down, one to go! Ren: Double-crossing darva-worm--oof! Bloth: You've had this long enough, boy--I'm finishing the game alone! Ren: Chongo-longo! By my father's soul, Bloth, today we settle the score! And those Korb won't stop me! Bloth: Game's almost over, and I've already won! Ren: I never realized that leviathan could move so fast! Having a little trouble, eh, Bloth? Bloth: You! Ren: I believe this is mine, you naja dog! Bloth: Help me, boy! Ren: Help you, Bloth? The man who just left me for dead? The man who has hunted me across the twenty seas? The man who killed my father? May Kunda have mercy on your worthless soul. Bloth: Well, son of Primus, at least our alliance has taught you one thing--no mercy-- *muffled laugh* Ren: Noy Jitat...I can't do it! Grab hold, you octarian[sp? ogtarian? ugtarian?] ox! Bloth: I would have left you to die, boy. Ren: Well, that's the difference between you and me, Bloth...but it looks like it's cost us the game. Bloth: Follow my lead and we might yet get out of this alive. Ren and Bloth: *grunts* Korb: *victorious roar, panicked roar* Bloth: So much for the ultimate warriors. Ren: I wish we could've won without destroying the Korb. Bloth: You're soft, boy. The Korb are gone--now it's just you and me! Blue: There is a substantial penalty for unsportsmanlike combat, Bloth. Bloth: Suffering gillnecks--let go of me! You kreld-faced losers! Red: I won an Undaarian bundle betting on you surface dwellers! Blue: Good Game Players are awfully hard to find--I believe this belongs to you? Ren: Thanks. Red: They'll have to sit out several contests, but they'll fight again! Ioz: Ren! Ren: What are you two doing here? Ioz: Trying to save you from Bloth! Ren: Thanks, but you're a little late. Blue: However, they did help a young Korb in training get some experience. Red: And helped me--*chuckle* win a little more Undaarian coin! Ioz: You mean we were a side bet? Red: For your trouble. Ioz: Why, you lizard-necked, kreld-eating-- Tula: *gasp* Bloth: Mantus! Prepare to attack the Wraith as soon as we are released! Tula: With Bloth for an ally, you were lucky to escape with your life! Ioz: And Bloth with his. You should've finished that naja dog when you had the chance. Ren: Maybe, Ioz, but--that--would've made no better than he is. Though I'm sure that dartha eel will make me regret it. Ioz: Niddler, that sail'd better be repaired, or you're going to regret it. Niddler: Ready to go! Blue: Farewell, warriors! Bloth: Prepare to strike as soon as we hit the water. Ren: Prepare to fly like the wind as soon as we hit the water. Mantus: There's nothing I can do, Bloth! Bloth: By my soul, son of Primus--next time we meet, you will lose everything! Tula: Do you suppose the Game Players had something to do with this lucky turn of events? Ren: You can bet on it. Ioz: And they probably did. Ren: *laughs*